Nonresponse Bias Confounds Self-Reported Mistreatment by Diverse Physician Associate Students

Introduction This study aimed to evaluate whether physi- the model had poor fit (P-value = 0; receiver operating cian assistant/associate (PA) students’ sociodemographic characteristic [ROC] 0.553), possibly related to partial factors were predictors of risk for mistreatment. A second- nonresponse bias. Completing mistreatment items was ary analysis aimed to evaluate whether sociodemographic statistically significantly more likely for respondents who features were evenly distributed among respondents who indicated they were gay or lesbian (odds ratio [OR] 1.52) answered mistreatment items. or bisexual (OR 1.82) and less likely for respondents who ^Methods_{ation Independent End of}^Data_{Program variables}^originated_{Surveys were}^from_{gender, (2018,}^the_2019,^PA_race,^Education_{2021, ethnicity, and}^Associ-_{2022). and}^indicated don’t _0.79), know/prefer _{or not}^they_White^were not _(OR^male to _0.49). answer” ^{(OR 0.68),} (OR ^sexual 0.65), ^orientation Hispanic (OR ^“I sexual orientation. Using logistic regression, odds ratios _{Discussion The sociodemographic factors evaluated were}^{were calculated} for ^{2 separate dependent variables:} inadequate to predict mistreatment of PA students, but ^{whether respondents} experienced mistreatment ^and sociodemographic factors were associated with willingness whether respondents completed mistreatment items. to complete mistreatment questions. Qualitative research is Results Surveys included 11,461 respondents, 3218 needed to determine why respondents who are male, (28.1%) of whom experienced mistreatment; however, Hispanic, or not White are reluctant to complete mistreatment 3258 (28.4%) of respondents did not answer any mis- questions. Findings could inform survey improvements to treatment items. Analysis showed statistically significant more accurately measure health professions student missociodemographic factors for risk for mistreatment, but treatment.